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My 'throw caution to the wind' diet has finally caught up with me. My Cholesterol is high for the first time ever in my life. I'm wondering if the meds have caused this, specifically the Epzicom.

Tri- 189Chol- 230

Nothing drastic yet, but Doc is starting me on Fish Oil 2x/daily.

Regarding the chest pain and dizziness while jogging, She is sending me for an EKg, and then most likely will follow up with a stress test. In the meantime she says I can continue to exercise, but no jogging, only walking.

This is going to depend on your diet. I absolutely hate the taste of salt and have never added it to anything. My sodium levels have always been low and really bottomed out after switching to my new diet last year. It was suggested to me to add salt to my vegetarian diet by my doctor. It's important to review your electrolytes when switching diets. Most people receive more than is adequate and therefore need to reduce the intake but there is the flip side.

It's time to cut up your Sonic card. I'll send you a gift card for Sprouts markets instead.

Seriously, your lipid numbers should be easily improved with some changes in diet and exercise. I don't know if Epzicom would influence your lipids. But I did know that Philly would chide you for bringing that up. Fortunately, your CD4 and viral load are excellent.

I hope your EKG and stress test go well -- don't put them off!!

Cheers,

Henry

Logged

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

will you have seen some great advice here and from the Dr....TAKE IT TO HEART...... fat and salt will definately have to go..... otherwise great numbers ...you granddaughter wants you to be around to spoil her

Listen Granny -- you either make changes or you don't -- what is this "thinking about" shit??

You know -- you need not go whole hog (pardon the pun) -- you can make one change at a time. Like the suggestion already made -- skip fries with your Big Mac. Then work your way to skipping the Big Mac. Then cut up the Sonic card.

I know you won't do it for you -- so start the journey for your granddaughter. Someone needs to show her the proper way to flirt with the young boys.........

Seriously though -- your results aren't awful, but you should start changing your diet now, before things get even worse. Remember, you aren't 29 anymore.

I won't chide you to change your ways, because if you don't, your body will not last. It really is that simple, unless you plan to die before 50, now is a good time to change your evil ways. If you won't do it for you, do it for your friends and family.

I won't chide you to change your ways, because if you don't, your body will not last. It really is that simple, unless you plan to die before 50, now is a good time to change your evil ways. If you won't do it for you, do it for your friends and family.

Joe

Thats a bit dramatic. His Cholesterol is a little high and you peeps are arranginging who best can sing Ave Maria. He lives in Texas for Petes sake. Land of the big!! Not to mention Whataburger.

Will, hint on the fish pills. Store them in the freezer and take them at bedtime. It lessens the fish burp. Oh an but enteric coated. They sell enteric coated at Costco.

Thats a bit dramatic. His Cholesterol is a little high and you peeps are arranginging who best can sing Ave Maria. He lives in Texas for Petes sake. Land of the big!! Not to mention Whataburger.

Will, hint on the fish pills. Store them in the freezer and take them at bedtime. It lessens the fish burp. Oh an but enteric coated. They sell enteric coated at Costco.

Maybe it was a little dramatic, but he needs to be planning long term. There is a good chance he has another 50+ years and if he changes some things now, his body will thank him later in life. Nobody expects him to become a Vegan, but I also assume he doesn't want to have major health issues as he ages.

, Spaghetti with Homemade sauce. then I had homemade Apple Crumble for Dessert. Also made Rapsberry Jello with a can of fruit cocktail in it. Washed down with several glasses of Dr.Pepper 10(of which I am not buying any more after this 2 liter is done)

Good luck with the changes to your diet. I've got to make some changes, too. I've tried to only eat at home through the week and eat out on the weekends. I eat too much Chinese food. Who knew it wasn't so good for you, even with the veggies? But, as you said, your numbers aren't that bad.

My friend and I were just talking about this---how we are at the age where we need to start making changes. My cholesterol is in the normal range, but my triglycerides were 250. I need to cut out fried foods and sugar. And, my liver ultrasound showed a slight amount of fat developing. So, that is a little worrisome. It is time for me to stop using my elliptical as a place for clothes. That is the biggest problem--not exercising like I use to.

As the reining que ... er, king of cholesterol battles, let me just say that making gradual changes is more likely to succeed than trying to change 30 years of bad eating habits overnight.

Here is an example of a yummy yet nutritious dinner I made yesterday:

Grilled tofu served with gluten free, reduced sodium, teriyaki sauce, served with steamed beet greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar, brown rice and a seaweed salad, served with my own homemade dressing of balsamic vinegar and honteri sauce.

Grilled tofu served with gluten free, reduced sodium, teriyaki sauce, served with steamed beet greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar, brown rice and a seaweed salad, served with my own homemade dressing of balsamic vinegar and honteri sauce.

Ummm, Mark -- why are you trying to scare Will all the way to Sonic??

I love me some vegetables, but beet greens and seaweed salad??? Not too sure about those dear.

Grilled tofu served with gluten free, reduced sodium, teriyaki sauce, served with steamed beet greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar, brown rice and a seaweed salad, served with my own homemade dressing of balsamic vinegar and honteri sauce.

Tofu. Beet Greens. Seaweed Salad. uhh, no. Isn't this the Welcome dinner they give you when you arrive in Hell?

Believe me, ... Anything you can do, to get this under control through diet and exercise, is the way to go. Nobody wants to have to take another pill if they can avoid it. And changing diet is never easy. One step at a time. my suggestion is to get a journal started, of two weeks, ( or longer) of everything you eat and drink, and present it to your doctor or better yet a nutritionist, and go from there.

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

Good luck with you lipids Willy . You didn't say if its the prescription fish oil you are taking but I have found that the prescription Lovasa didn't give me the fish burps . It also was covered under my insurance so it was the better deal . I cant take Lovasa any more because of some side effects but most people have no problem with it . Lovasa cut my high lipid numbers by half , wish I could take it again .

Good luck with you lipids Willy . You didn't say if its the prescription fish oil you are taking but I have found that the prescription Lovasa didn't give me the fish burps . It also was covered under my insurance so it was the better deal . I cant take Lovasa any more because of some side effects but most people have no problem with it . Lovasa cut my high lipid numbers by half , wish I could take it again .

Fish burp suggestions for ya. Buy the "enteric coated" brand at Costco. The shell of the pill is thicker so it takes longer to disolve. Its only a few extra dollars and well worth it. Also try freezing them.

Krill oil is supposed to be less fishy however, ive heard some issue about their environmental friendliness.

Ditto the others....try the enteric coated fish oil. I use Natures Bounty also, but buy the pharmaceutical grade triple strength version. You use less of it...two a day is a full dose. The coating prevents most of the fish burp which you will most likely adjust to anyway. Your trigs numbers are nowhere near high enough to be prescribed Lovaza (my doctor won't let me have it either.) You will adjust to the fish oil...it does work along with diet and exercise. There are medication options (Lopid or TriCor) if these methods don't work. There has been lots of discussions on this forum about this phenomenon (excessive lipids.) No doubt our American diet contributes to this (and so much salt is hidden in processed food) but I am convinced our HIV+ status is an additional contributor. Take it a day at a time...there's plenty of reasons to believe these steps will lower your lipid levels.

Ditto the others....try the enteric coated fish oil. I use Natures Bounty also, but buy the pharmaceutical grade triple strength version. You use less of it...two a day is a full dose. The coating prevents most of the fish burp which you will most likely adjust to anyway. Your trigs numbers are nowhere near high enough to be prescribed Lovaza (my doctor won't let me have it either.) You will adjust to the fish oil...it does work along with diet and exercise. There are medication options (Lopid or TriCor) if these methods don't work. There has been lots of discussions on this forum about this phenomenon (excessive lipids.) No doubt our American diet contributes to this (and so much salt is hidden in processed food) but I am convinced our HIV+ status is an additional contributor. Take it a day at a time...there's plenty of reasons to believe these steps will lower your lipid levels.

Gary

Thanks Gary. Also, I still think it is some component of my meds or the HIV itself as you suggest (queue the rolling eyes of MissP). I've never had a prob with my lipids, matter of fact several years ago I had a doctor remark that he couldnt beleive how low my chol was considering how I ate.